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St. Paul's Cathedral And The Craft.
ST . PAUL'S CATHEDRAL AND THE CRAFT .
We published last week a very interesting letter from Mr . WILLIAM WOODWARD , Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and Fellow of the Surveyors' Institution , in which he suggested that the Freemasons of England , out of respect to Sir CHRISTOPHER . WREN , who is said to have been appointed Deputy Grand Master in 1666 , and Grand Master
in 1685 , should contribute as a body towards the fund now in course of being raised by the Dean and Chapter towards completing the decoration of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . Mr . WOODWARD ' suggestion is of a threefold character : ( 1 ) That every lodge in England should forego one banquet during the current year and pay over to the fund the sum which would probably have
been expended on such banquet ; ( 2 ) that a grand Masonic ceremony , with H . R . H . the Prince of WALES , M . W . G . M ., at its head , should take place this year in the Cathedral in order to draw attention to the scheme and aid the fund ; and ( 3 ) that the sum thus raised should be devoted to a particular portion of the work to be done —( say ) the decoration of the dome and
transepts—with which the Society of Freemasons would thus be honourably associated , and that the whole be completed by December , 1897 , the bi-centenary of the opening of the choir for divine service . With the precise details of the scheme as thus set forth we do not propose to trouble ourselves—it will be ' time enough to determine them in concert with the cathedral
authorities when the Masonic body has resolved on contributing towards the proposed fund and it is possible to hazard a conjecture as to the amount of their contributions . As regards the main proposal , however , we are in accord with Mr . W OODWARD . The prosecution of such a work as the completion of the interior decorations of our great Metropolitan Cathedral according
to the original designs of its great architect , is a duty which immediately concerns the whole English people . It is not every country which can boast of numbering amongst its public buildings so magnificent a specimen of ecclesiastical architecture . It is not every such building of which it can be said that it was designed by , and erected under the personal supervision of ,
one and the same architect ; and lastly , of the many noble fanes which are to be found in England , St . Paul ' s Cathedral is the only one as to which , so far as we know , there is indisputable evidence that it was planned by an
English-born architect and built by English-born Masons . These are the general reasons why we hold that it is the duty of all Englishmen to assist , so far as their means will enable them , in the proposed decoration of this cathedral .
As for the special reasons which , in our opinion , are calculated to influence , and should influence , the members of our Order to take a prominent and , if possible , a distinct part in this scheme , we may remark that the question whether Sir C . WREN was , or was not a Grand Master , or even a Freemason at all , is , comparatively speaking , a matter of secondary
importance , and though we may have occasion to consider it separately and at some other time , we do not propose to discuss it now and in this article , lie may have been a Mason or he may not , but there is no doubt as to his having been the architect of St . Paul's—and for the matter of that , of many another building , both ecclesiastical and secular—and
we have already argued that it is the duty of all Englishmen to assist in completing the decoration of his greatest work . As Freemasons , however , we are continually priding ourselves upon the descent of our Society as it now is from the great operative guilds of the Middle Ages , those guilds to which we are indebted for the erection of so many
stately and superb edifices . Moreover , just as we owe it to the more learned members of the different religious Orders of the same era , that the knowledge of ancient letters was preserved and by them handed down to us , so in like manner do we owe it to the architects of the venerable cathedral churches and other buildinprs that a knowledge of the arts and sciences
which enabled them to plan and erect such works has heen preserved and handed down . This is no doubt the reason why Dr . J AMES ANDERSON , in his second edition of the Book of Constitutions , included in his roll of Grand Masters such architects as . INIGO J ONES and Sir CHRISTOPHER WREN and such grand patrons of architecture as WILLIAM WYKEHAM and Cardinal
\ VOLSEY . But whether we incline with Bro . R . F . GOULD to ridicule many , if not all , of these amazing legends of the Craft , or agree in accepting them with the most perfect faith as do Mr . WOODWARD and others , we are all agreed upon this point—that architecture is justly entitled to the patronage of the Masonic Order , and where occasion offers , as not unfrequently
St. Paul's Cathedral And The Craft.
happens in this and other countries where Freemasonry has established itself , such patronage is readily md generously exhibited . Hence , when works of great public utility are about to be erected , it is no uncommon thing for the authorities to write to the Grand Master of the Order , or his representative in the locality interested , to lay the first stone oi the
proposed edifice with Masonic ceremonial . Thus , in 187 G , the year following his installation as Grand Master , the Prince of WALES ( aid the foundation-stones of the new Docks at Bombay , the New Market at Gibraltar , and the New Post Office al Glasgow . In i 8 S . $ , helaid the memorial stones of the Indian Institute at Oxford , of the New Institute
of Art , Science , and Literature at York . In 1887 , he laid the foundations'one of the New Hospital at Great Yarmouth , and , in iSSS , he performed a like ceremony on behalf of the Technical Schools at Blackburn . On all these occasions , and on others we might name , his Royal Highness discharged this duty in his capacity of head of the Masonic Order , and in
every instance he was assisted by his Grand or acting Grand Officers in theii several official capacities . These are enough instances to show that the association between architecture and the Society of Freemasons as it is now constituted is publicly recognised , and that Freemasons themselves most readily acknowledge the association by accepting , if possible , such invitations as
they receive to take part in the ceremonies proper to such occasions . But as regards this particular proposal relating to St . Paul ' s Cathedral , there are several precedents which are favourable to the scheme . In 1 S 80 , his Roya ] Highness , as M . W . Grand Master , attended by his Grand Ofiicers , laid the foundation-stone of the Cathedral at Truro , while , in 1 SS 4 . the chief corner
stone of the new central tower of the Cathedral at Peterborough wns laid by the late Bro . the Earl of CARNARVON , Pro G . Master , on behalf of H . R . H . the Prince of WALES , M . W . G . M ., who was unfortunately prevented from fulfilling his engagement to lay the stone by the death some time previously of his brother the late Duke of ALBANY , These , however , it may be
said , are precedents for the Freemasons , headed by their Grand Master , taking part in any ceremonial that might be contemplated in connection with the proposed decoration of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , but not for contributing in an especial manner to any Fund that may be raised towards defraying the costs of decoration . But here , again , we are
able to furnish the needful precedent . In our " Notes " of last week , in calling attention to MR . WOODWARD ' letter and the paragraph thereto relating which we had extracted from the Dail y Telegraph , we cited the case of St . Alban ' s Abbey , or Cathedral as being in point . Some years ago when the restoration of this venerable church was being considered , the subject
was brought to the notice of the brethren , firstly in Hertfordshire , and then generally throughout the country , and their assistance was invited towards raising a fund which might be devoted to a distinct and separate section of the work , and with which , being thus separate and distinct , our Society might be specially associated . A small sum—amounting , we believe , to about
£ 800—was raised , and with this a new and handsome pulpit was erected , and when complete was formally presented to the dean and chapter of the cathedral , the presentation being made by Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire , supported by the officers of his Prov . Grand Lodge and a large number of brethren from the lodges in his
Province and elsewhere . We believe also that we are correct in stating that tlie Freemasons contributed liberally towards the cost of restoring Peterborough Cathedral , and that certain of the new stalls erected in the choir for the accommodation of the Dean and Chapter were placed there out of the moneys subscribed by the brethren . Here , then , are precedents in favour both of
the head ol our Order taking a prominent part in any public ceremonial which might be arranged in connection with the work of decoration , and of the Order itself defraying the cost of a particular section of the work , but as to tlie steps it may be necessary to take in order to bring the subject to the notice of the Craft generally and enlist their sympathy and support in
its behalf , we must leave it to others to decide as to time , place , and circumstances . VVe believe the Masonic body will readily and generously support such a scheme as Mr . WOODWARD proposes . They will probably not trouble themselves much about the question of one banquet more or less in the course of the year , but we doubt not they will subscribe towards the cost of the
project in favour of which so much more than we have said may be urged . All depends , however , on the manner in which the subject is brought before them , and if strong and influential Committees are formed , and meetings held , with the approval , if not under the direct sanction of the authorities ,
then something worthy of WREN and the Craft will be done . But to secure this end , ( here must be the co-operation of leading Masons in London and throughout the country , and up to the present time we have heard nothing as to their assistance having been invited .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
St. Paul's Cathedral And The Craft.
ST . PAUL'S CATHEDRAL AND THE CRAFT .
We published last week a very interesting letter from Mr . WILLIAM WOODWARD , Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and Fellow of the Surveyors' Institution , in which he suggested that the Freemasons of England , out of respect to Sir CHRISTOPHER . WREN , who is said to have been appointed Deputy Grand Master in 1666 , and Grand Master
in 1685 , should contribute as a body towards the fund now in course of being raised by the Dean and Chapter towards completing the decoration of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . Mr . WOODWARD ' suggestion is of a threefold character : ( 1 ) That every lodge in England should forego one banquet during the current year and pay over to the fund the sum which would probably have
been expended on such banquet ; ( 2 ) that a grand Masonic ceremony , with H . R . H . the Prince of WALES , M . W . G . M ., at its head , should take place this year in the Cathedral in order to draw attention to the scheme and aid the fund ; and ( 3 ) that the sum thus raised should be devoted to a particular portion of the work to be done —( say ) the decoration of the dome and
transepts—with which the Society of Freemasons would thus be honourably associated , and that the whole be completed by December , 1897 , the bi-centenary of the opening of the choir for divine service . With the precise details of the scheme as thus set forth we do not propose to trouble ourselves—it will be ' time enough to determine them in concert with the cathedral
authorities when the Masonic body has resolved on contributing towards the proposed fund and it is possible to hazard a conjecture as to the amount of their contributions . As regards the main proposal , however , we are in accord with Mr . W OODWARD . The prosecution of such a work as the completion of the interior decorations of our great Metropolitan Cathedral according
to the original designs of its great architect , is a duty which immediately concerns the whole English people . It is not every country which can boast of numbering amongst its public buildings so magnificent a specimen of ecclesiastical architecture . It is not every such building of which it can be said that it was designed by , and erected under the personal supervision of ,
one and the same architect ; and lastly , of the many noble fanes which are to be found in England , St . Paul ' s Cathedral is the only one as to which , so far as we know , there is indisputable evidence that it was planned by an
English-born architect and built by English-born Masons . These are the general reasons why we hold that it is the duty of all Englishmen to assist , so far as their means will enable them , in the proposed decoration of this cathedral .
As for the special reasons which , in our opinion , are calculated to influence , and should influence , the members of our Order to take a prominent and , if possible , a distinct part in this scheme , we may remark that the question whether Sir C . WREN was , or was not a Grand Master , or even a Freemason at all , is , comparatively speaking , a matter of secondary
importance , and though we may have occasion to consider it separately and at some other time , we do not propose to discuss it now and in this article , lie may have been a Mason or he may not , but there is no doubt as to his having been the architect of St . Paul's—and for the matter of that , of many another building , both ecclesiastical and secular—and
we have already argued that it is the duty of all Englishmen to assist in completing the decoration of his greatest work . As Freemasons , however , we are continually priding ourselves upon the descent of our Society as it now is from the great operative guilds of the Middle Ages , those guilds to which we are indebted for the erection of so many
stately and superb edifices . Moreover , just as we owe it to the more learned members of the different religious Orders of the same era , that the knowledge of ancient letters was preserved and by them handed down to us , so in like manner do we owe it to the architects of the venerable cathedral churches and other buildinprs that a knowledge of the arts and sciences
which enabled them to plan and erect such works has heen preserved and handed down . This is no doubt the reason why Dr . J AMES ANDERSON , in his second edition of the Book of Constitutions , included in his roll of Grand Masters such architects as . INIGO J ONES and Sir CHRISTOPHER WREN and such grand patrons of architecture as WILLIAM WYKEHAM and Cardinal
\ VOLSEY . But whether we incline with Bro . R . F . GOULD to ridicule many , if not all , of these amazing legends of the Craft , or agree in accepting them with the most perfect faith as do Mr . WOODWARD and others , we are all agreed upon this point—that architecture is justly entitled to the patronage of the Masonic Order , and where occasion offers , as not unfrequently
St. Paul's Cathedral And The Craft.
happens in this and other countries where Freemasonry has established itself , such patronage is readily md generously exhibited . Hence , when works of great public utility are about to be erected , it is no uncommon thing for the authorities to write to the Grand Master of the Order , or his representative in the locality interested , to lay the first stone oi the
proposed edifice with Masonic ceremonial . Thus , in 187 G , the year following his installation as Grand Master , the Prince of WALES ( aid the foundation-stones of the new Docks at Bombay , the New Market at Gibraltar , and the New Post Office al Glasgow . In i 8 S . $ , helaid the memorial stones of the Indian Institute at Oxford , of the New Institute
of Art , Science , and Literature at York . In 1887 , he laid the foundations'one of the New Hospital at Great Yarmouth , and , in iSSS , he performed a like ceremony on behalf of the Technical Schools at Blackburn . On all these occasions , and on others we might name , his Royal Highness discharged this duty in his capacity of head of the Masonic Order , and in
every instance he was assisted by his Grand or acting Grand Officers in theii several official capacities . These are enough instances to show that the association between architecture and the Society of Freemasons as it is now constituted is publicly recognised , and that Freemasons themselves most readily acknowledge the association by accepting , if possible , such invitations as
they receive to take part in the ceremonies proper to such occasions . But as regards this particular proposal relating to St . Paul ' s Cathedral , there are several precedents which are favourable to the scheme . In 1 S 80 , his Roya ] Highness , as M . W . Grand Master , attended by his Grand Ofiicers , laid the foundation-stone of the Cathedral at Truro , while , in 1 SS 4 . the chief corner
stone of the new central tower of the Cathedral at Peterborough wns laid by the late Bro . the Earl of CARNARVON , Pro G . Master , on behalf of H . R . H . the Prince of WALES , M . W . G . M ., who was unfortunately prevented from fulfilling his engagement to lay the stone by the death some time previously of his brother the late Duke of ALBANY , These , however , it may be
said , are precedents for the Freemasons , headed by their Grand Master , taking part in any ceremonial that might be contemplated in connection with the proposed decoration of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , but not for contributing in an especial manner to any Fund that may be raised towards defraying the costs of decoration . But here , again , we are
able to furnish the needful precedent . In our " Notes " of last week , in calling attention to MR . WOODWARD ' letter and the paragraph thereto relating which we had extracted from the Dail y Telegraph , we cited the case of St . Alban ' s Abbey , or Cathedral as being in point . Some years ago when the restoration of this venerable church was being considered , the subject
was brought to the notice of the brethren , firstly in Hertfordshire , and then generally throughout the country , and their assistance was invited towards raising a fund which might be devoted to a distinct and separate section of the work , and with which , being thus separate and distinct , our Society might be specially associated . A small sum—amounting , we believe , to about
£ 800—was raised , and with this a new and handsome pulpit was erected , and when complete was formally presented to the dean and chapter of the cathedral , the presentation being made by Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire , supported by the officers of his Prov . Grand Lodge and a large number of brethren from the lodges in his
Province and elsewhere . We believe also that we are correct in stating that tlie Freemasons contributed liberally towards the cost of restoring Peterborough Cathedral , and that certain of the new stalls erected in the choir for the accommodation of the Dean and Chapter were placed there out of the moneys subscribed by the brethren . Here , then , are precedents in favour both of
the head ol our Order taking a prominent part in any public ceremonial which might be arranged in connection with the work of decoration , and of the Order itself defraying the cost of a particular section of the work , but as to tlie steps it may be necessary to take in order to bring the subject to the notice of the Craft generally and enlist their sympathy and support in
its behalf , we must leave it to others to decide as to time , place , and circumstances . VVe believe the Masonic body will readily and generously support such a scheme as Mr . WOODWARD proposes . They will probably not trouble themselves much about the question of one banquet more or less in the course of the year , but we doubt not they will subscribe towards the cost of the
project in favour of which so much more than we have said may be urged . All depends , however , on the manner in which the subject is brought before them , and if strong and influential Committees are formed , and meetings held , with the approval , if not under the direct sanction of the authorities ,
then something worthy of WREN and the Craft will be done . But to secure this end , ( here must be the co-operation of leading Masons in London and throughout the country , and up to the present time we have heard nothing as to their assistance having been invited .